MONTREAL — Quebecor Media and its TVA Group presented an overview of its upcoming 2020-21 TV season at its 2020 Multi Event virtual upfront on Tuesday.
Quebecor’s 2020-21 season will feature more than 1,000 hours of original programming, distributed over its seven channels. This coming fall, TVA will present 34 original productions, including eight new ones, all brought to completion despite the Covid-19 pandemic situation and the challenges it has created. In addition, TVA Sports is gearing up to bring viewers live sporting events, including hockey, soccer, baseball and tennis.
“Spring 2020 was as much of challenge as it was an opportunity to evolve and push our creative process even further to provide our advertisers with an optimal offer,” said Patrick Jutras (pictured), senior vice-president and chief advertising officer for Quebecor and TVA Group, in the news release. “These events are an excellent opportunity to test the strength of a team, measure its capacity to innovate, to reinvent itself and to develop better, more effective, more distinctive products. We’re delighted to demonstrate Quebecor’s commitment to innovation and our steadfast desire to offer highly effective advertising environments and solutions to our advertising partners.”
As part of its upfront presentation, the company highlighted three advertising solutions: Pause Ads, an all-new premium ad format which is activated when a user pauses an online video on TVA.ca; the new automated omnichannel synchronization tool which automatically synchronizes digital ad campaigns with the broadcast schedules of TV ads; and Hublo, a new platform for hosting and showcasing promotional content.
Among the highlighted shows being launched by TVA this fall: La Tour, a new daily talk show hosted by Patrick Huard, combining news, performance and special guests; En Studio, hosted by Marc Dupré, which gives people the unique opportunity to do a professional studio recording of a song that has special meaning in their lives; À Tour de Rôles, hosted by Marie-Eve Janvier, which pays homage to local actors by looking back at the outstanding roles in their careers and incorporates audience participation; Bijoux de Famille, hosted by Charles Lafortune, which features a whole-new mix of lively discussion and comedy club format with special guests and comedians, all focused on the theme of family; and Sans Rancune, a variety show that pays homage to Quebeckers using a comic type of self-deprecation, designed to not only poke good-natured fun at them but also to defeat prejudices. Shows returning to TVA for the 2020-21 season include La Voix and Salut Bonjour.
During its virtual presentation, Quebecor also outlined the advertising opportunities provided by its other media platforms, including its various news media outlets and their digital platforms, QUB Radio podcasts, print magazines and their digital platforms, and even Quebecor bus shelters.
